Home | Contents | Search | Post
 |
From: Lance ( Vehicle Research)
Date: 08 Mar 2003
Time: 19:31:51
What is the best work van? Well there were 357,000 Shooter type vans sold last year by the big three. So, What is the best work van? Well that is an excellent question. One which has several answers. Our first choice was the GMC Savannah, second is the Freightliner Sprinter. The Savannah has dual slide doors which is the coolest option yet. Ford still has the largest market share (47%)with it's E-250 and E-350. which we like even though turning radius sucks and visibility is sub standard in my opinion. But it they do have the juice. 4.2 L V-6 in the E-250 and the ominous 5.2L V-8 in the E-350, Whoooyaaaa. 78 amp battery is now standard too. Over all great compromise with it's excellent cargo space and the ambulance suspension kits. Sprinter would have won it for us but it does not have tilt wheel and the warranty is only 3/36,000 not until 2004 are they going to go to 5/60,000, I guess they want us to test them out first, see how they do. It appears well so far as we can see from the hard work at UPS and Fed Ex each company buying many thousands of units. Could end up the first fuel cell delivery van too within five years? We like the four wheel disk brakes 64 inch inside carge height, 77 inch exterior. 473 cubic feet of cargo, that is a lot. Good acceleration too. Carries lots of weight 5170 with over all GVW of 9,900. Not bad. Great for mobile oil changing, unfortunately the oil change interval is 10,000 miles so not so good for customers !!!! The Sprinter has ABS and it works good loaded in the rain, it better, I would hate to get one of those side ways full of waste oil. It is fairly quiet, stand next to one when the UPS guy or Fed Ex guy jumps out and leaves the engine running, you'll see, for a diesel it is very quiet. All Sprinters are shipped out of Memphis Distribution, similar to the strategies of Mitsubishi and Isuzu mid range trucks. Great for dealers who wholesale out with barley $1500 in profit including dealer incentive rebates. Savannah has nearly similar characteristics to all the vans, great fuel economy if you do not open ur up. But has the juice when you need it. Great braking and the smaller wheel base version out turns both Ford and Sprinter, Chevy significantly. We really like that, plenty of room and easy to work out of. Payload good enough and this is the unit we designed our Oil Change Guys van package after. Ford has the best performance if you like power. But remember fuel costs. Also remember the bigger the engine the better for power at lower RPMs and saving that engine. The formula example: HP=Torque (foot lbs.) X RPM/5252 .
|
©Copyright 1996-. All rights reserved.
Site hosted by CCG
Site design by CCG Studio
DISCLAIMER: Although we exert control over all articles written by our staff and consultants, we are in no way able to assure the accuracy of any content generated by our readers. Any information or advice provided by our readers should be used cautiously, and should be considered as an opinion of such, and not the views, ideas, opinions, or advice of The Oil Change Guys. The Oil Change Guys., its staff, and consultants shall in no way be held liable or responsible for any false or misleading information or injurious advice obtained from our readers, including any information posted to this Bulletin Board forum. Any information or advice obtained from other readers through Bulletin Board postings shall be used at the reader's own risk. The Bulletin Board forum functions as a discussion group for the exchange of views, information and opinions on issues related to The Oil Change Guys, and their associated topics. The Oil Change Guys, its staff, and consultants will not be held liable for any incidental or consequential loss or damage sustained as a result of this information or advice. No user shall be entitled to claim detrimental reliance on any views received from the staff, consultants or other readers. By using this Bulletin Board and it's related forums, you agree to indemnify and hold The Oil Change Guys, its staff and consultants harmless from any claims arising as a result of your use of the information or materials you download from or upload to the Bulletin Board.